Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Herbs To Avoid During Pregnancy

Many herbs contain a mild toxin, strong uterine stimulants, or steroids that can affect the baby's development during pregnancy and/or nursing. 

Angelica - stimulates suppressed menstruation

Birthroot - stimulates suppressed menstruation, rootstock

Birthwort - stimulates suppressed menstruation, rootstock, flowering herb

Black Cohosh - uterine stimulant - mostly used during labor

Blind nettle - stimulates, suppressed menstruation, plant, flowers

Blue Cohosh - a stronger uterine stimulant

Borage oil - a uterine stimulant - use only during the last few days of pregnancy

Buckthorn -stimulates suppressed menstruation, bark

Carrot - stimulates suppressed menstruation, seeds (wild plant)

Celery - Uterine stimulant, the plant, especially juice, Use only in small amounts

Comfrey - can cause liver problems in mother and fetus - use only briefly, externally only, for treating sprains and strains

Common Groundsel - uterine stimulant, plant

Cotton - uterine stimulant, the bark off of the root Total Avoidance

Damask Rose - stimulates suppressed menstruation, this is what is used to make attar of roses, the rose oil used most in perfumes and flavorings

Dong Quai - may stimulate bleeding

Elder - do not use during pregnancy or lactation

Ergot - uterine stimulant, fungus off of rye plant Total avoidance

Fenugreek - uterine relaxant

Fraxinella - stimulates suppressed menstruation, rootstock, herb, and seed

German Chamomile - stimulates suppressed menstruation, flowers

Ginger - stimulates suppressed menstruation, rootstock, Use only in small amounts

Goldenseal - too powerful an antibiotic for the developing fetus, also should not be used if nursing

Hedge Hyssop - uterine stimulant, plant

Hemlock Spruce - uterine stimulant, bark

Henbane - highly toxic

Horsetail - too high in silica for the developing fetus


Horseradish - uterine stimulant, the root, take only in small amounts

Lady's Mantle and Silvery Lady's Mantle - stimulates suppressed menstruation, herb

Larch - stimulates suppressed menstruation, bark, resin, young shoots, needles,

Licorice Root - can create water retention and/or elevated blood pressure

Lovage - stimulates suppressed menstruation, rootstock

Milfoil - stimulates suppressed menstruation, herb

Mistletoe(European and American) - uterine stimulant, plant, poisonous, do not use without Dr.'s help

Motherwort - stimulates suppressed menstruation


Mugwort - can be a uterine stimulant


Nutmeg - can cause miscarriage in large dose. 

Parsley - stimulates suppressed menstruation plant, seeds, Use only in small amounts

Pennyroyal Leaf - stimulates uterine contractions (NOTE: Pennyroyal essential oil should not be used by pregnant women at any time!) - do not handle if pregnant or nursing

Peppermint - stimulates suppressed menstruation, leaves, Use only in small amounts

Peruvian Bark -uterine stimulant, bark

Pride of China - stimulates suppressed menstruation, root bark, fruit

Ragwort (other names, European ragwort, cocash weed, coughweed, golden ragwort, grundt swallow, life root, squaw weed) -strong stimulant, plant, not medically advisable to use without a Dr.'s supervision

Rosemary - stimulates suppressed menstruation, leaves, flowering tops, Use only in small amounts

Rose of China (other names, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis or Chinese Hibiscus) - stimulates suppressed menstruation, roots, bark, flowers

Rue - strong expellant

Sage - stimulates suppressed menstruation, leaves, burnt, or oil, use leaves in cooking only in small amounts during pregnancy

Saffron - can cause miscarriage and other problems

Shepherd's Purse - used only for hemmorhaging during/after childbirth

Star Grass - stimulates suppressed menstruation, rootstock

Sweet Marjoram - stimulates suppressed menstruation, herb

Tansy - uterine stimulant, stimulates suppressed menstruation, plant

Tarragon - stimulates suppressed menstruation, the flowering plant

Thuja (other names White Cedar or Yellow Cedar) - stimulates suppressed menstruation, branchlets, leaves, bark

Uva Ursi - removes too much blood sugar during pregnancy and nursing

Watercress - stimulates suppressed menstruation, leaves, roots, young shoots

White Mustard - stimulates suppressed menstruation, seed, Use only in small amounts 

Wild Ginger - stimulates suppressed menstruation, rootstock, Use only in small amounts

Yarrow - uterine stimulant 

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